Transcript
2009 Digital TV Migration A Chicagoland Perspective Presented by Mike Swiatkowski, AA9VI (some portions from the FCC, Cnet.com, Wikipedia, chicagotelevison.com, and PBS)
This is you or June 13, 2009 This is Digital TV… any questions?
History of TV in Chicago • • • •
1941 FCC adopts NTSC (analog) TV 1946 WBBM (WBKB ch4) signs on 1953 Rose Bowl in color on WMAQ 1956 WMAQ first all color TV station (50k receivers, 33%) • 1964 WCIU is the 1st UHF station • 1999 WFLD 1st digital station OTA • 2009 All full power OTA will be digital
The DTV Transitional Deadline Today, most full power TV stations are broadcasting in 2 formats: Digital and Analog
Beginning June 13, 2009, all full power stations will broadcast only in digital format. (recent change) Wilmington, NC as of 9/8/08 and Hawaii on 1/1/09 full power STAs are only digital. South Bend, Rockford, WYCC/WGN? analog off on 2/17/09 Some stations switch, some don’t. This new bill has just made it more confusing! Just be prepared.
Can I Watch TV on My Analog TV After June 12th? • Cable or Satellite TV = YES! No changes necessary! Don’t worry! Satellite is already digital, cable will broadcast analog and digital. No impact to your everyday viewing for either. … However, many cable and satellite systems do not carry the entire subchannel suite of programming. They just carry the main network programming you see on analog TV today. • Free Over the Air using antenna/ rabbit ears and analog TV = NOT without a digital decoder box. - Connects similarly as a VCR Zenith DTT900 - 2 “Free” $40 coupons when you apply online or call 1-800 number - Purchase boxes at Best Buy, ABT, Target, Wal-Mart, online, etc. Cost $50- $150 each, before coupon.
Co-existence Until June 13th Analog Today
Digital Today
Digital 6/13
Analog Today
Digital Today
Digital 6/13
2
3
12
38
43
43
5
29
29
41
-
49*
7
52
7
44
45
45
9
19
19
48
-
46*
11
47
47
50
51
51
13
-
4*
56
17
17
20
21
21
60
59
50
23
39
39
62
36
36
26
27
27
66
53
38
32
31
31
* Planned (not operational yet) • Highlighted stations require rescan after 12am 6/13/09 • Red channels no longer part of UHF TV as of 6/13/09
Why are Full Power TV Broadcast Stations Switching to All-Digital? • Analog spectrum re-allocated for Public Safety and wireless broadband. Now channels 2-69, in Feb. channels 2-51 for TV
• Digital is more efficient, so broadcast stations can offer: Better TV picture/sound • More programming options (digital subchannels) WCIU - 5 channels in 6 MHz BW (same as 1 analog) WTTW, WCPX - 4 program channels WMAQ, WLS - 3 channels WYCC, WGN - 2 channels
2, 3, 4 Channels? How does that work? • You will use your digital receiver to press in the “virtual channel“ i.e. 5-1, 5-2, or 5-3. Some receivers use the “.” dot instead of the dash. • 5-1 NBC, 5-2 Weather, 5-3 Universal Sports (RF 29) • 7-1 ABC, 7-2 WLS-2 reruns, 7-3 Weather (RF 52/7) • 11-1 WTTW-D, 11-3 Create, 11-4 V-me (RF 47) • 20-1 WYCC, 20-3 MHz World View (RF 21) • 26-1 WCIU, 26-2 MeTV, 26-3, MeToo, 26-4 THIS, 26-6 FBT (ethnic) (RF 27) • 38-1 ion, 38-2 qubo, 38-3, 38-4 religious
Higher Definition • HD standard calls for 16x9 aspect ratio. SD is 4x3. • HD has 6 times more pixels • 5.1 channels audio
DTV or HDTV • Transition is from analog to digital, not from analog to high definition. Not all programs after the change will be in HD, although they may be in standard definition digital (similar to analog quality). - 2 HD OTA formats (720p, 1080i) - 2 SD OTA formats (480i, 480p) • DTV and HDTV sets are not the same. Make sure you purchase a set with at least 720p. 1080i is very good also. • 1080p is for Blueray HD DVD and some PPV cable and satellite programs. OTA has not adopted 1080p for any network. - FOX, ABC, PBS 720p (said to be better for motion, sports) - CBS, NBC, most HD cable nets. 1080i (better for movies)
Recording and VCRs • Most VCRs today are analog. They do not have a digital tuner. You can still record on it by connecting VCR via composite cable to the converter box, cable box, or satellite receiver. The VCR will not record in HD, just SD. Converter Box Cable Box Satellite Rcvr.
VCR (ch3/4 or Line in)
Analog TV
• VCRs are becoming obsolete. If you are upgrading to DVD recorder or DVR, make sure it has ATSC (OTA) and QAM (cable) tuners in it.
Composite, Component, and HDMI • HDMI carries digital audio and video on one jack ($100 Monster cables are a RIP OFF! The $20-$30 cables will work just fine.) • Component (RGB) • Composite has 3 video jacks (analog, video, LR audio)
Antennas • There is no such thing as an HDTV antenna. Antennas are antennas and they work for both analog and digital. You don’t need a new antenna. Digital spectrum uses same channels as former analog spectrum. • For our area you will need a VHF and UHF antenna. All programs on UHF except for CBS and ABC. • Rabbit ears may or may not work. It depends on how close you are to downtown transmit antennas. Probably not work for WBBM (CBS). • You may also be able to get Milwaukee, Rockford, or South Bend.
Antenna/Amplifier Suggestions • Always use RG6-QS coax and compression connectors • Chicago (CM3018, RS VU-90XR, or CM2020)
• Milwaukee + Chicago – Need rotator (CM9521A) + preamplifier (Winegard AP8700, CM7778, AP8780, or CM7777)+ antenna (CM3020 or RS VU-190)
Digital Reception • Digital is crystal clear or nothing. There is no “snow.” There are no “ghosts.” A weak signal may be pixelate.
• Use signal meter to aim antenna. Example of reception after the slides.
Better Signal with Lower Power?
• Digital transmitters use about 10-25% of transmit power as analog companions to cover same area. For the vast majority, digital TV will allow you to have more channels with a clearer picture. • Error correction and more sensitive receivers. (Lower SNR needed) Channel
FCC Analog Service Contour (dBuV)
FCC Digital Service Contour (dBuV)
2-6
47
28
7-13
56
36
13-51
64
41
Improvement in Coverage
(more sports choices and PBS World programming)
Improvement in CoverageMilwaukee too?
Who Has the Most HD channels? • • • • • •
Local Broadcast (OTA) = 12 AT&T U-Verse = 45 Comcast = 54 RCN = 71 DirecTV = 127 Dish Network = 89 Enter your ZIP code at: www.whereishd.com
Who are the losers in this transition? • TV stations, partly. Infrastructure costs money. • Smaller markets with lower DTV power • DTV delay will cost million$ ($10k/mo/STA) • Some fringe viewers ch 46 in CHI, MIL, SBN ch 7 from CHI, GRR ch 39 from CHI, RFD
Summary • Cable and satellite subscribers will notice a nearly seamless transition. • Only some programs on cable are in digital. If you want digital, you may have to pay extra for it. Some of it is free on basic package with QAM tuner. (Most TVs and DVDRs have it) • Converter boxes change the HD signals to SD. Need an HD tuner to view full resolution. • Don’t waste $$ buying a new “digital” antenna. Your existing one will work just fine. (Preferable to have an outdoor antenna) • Don’t be ripped off by $100 or $75 HDMI cables. Online low as $2. Work just as well.
Summary (con’t) • Entire suite of subchannels may not be available on cable or satellite. OTA (ATSC) tuner is best. • You will need to rescan for local channels that have changed frequency after 12am 6/13/09 (Chicago/Milwaukee), 2/18/09 (Rockford and South Bend) • Likely last minute DTV delay will cause some channels to sign off analog, some to stay on. This will cause MORE confusion. Be prepared! • The WBBM-DT (CBS) issue will get better after analog signs off. They are moving from RF 3 to RF 12. • More channels! Better picture and sound quality! No ghosts or static!
Helpful Links • • • • • •
www.dtv2009.com (FCC’s official DTV site, coupon) www.dtvanswers.com (NAB’s site) www.fcc.gov/dtv/markets (Coverage gained) www.tvfool.com (Color relief maps/signal, Bearings) www.antennaweb.org (Bearings and avail STAs, CEA) www.avsforum.com/avs vb/showthread.php?t=815397 (Chicago OTA forum) • www.milwaukeehdtv.org (Milwaukee OTA Forum) • www.fcc.gov/fcc-bin/audio/tvq.html (latest license apps)
Helpful Links • http://www.amazon.com/HDMI-Cable-2M-6Feet/dp/B0002L5R78 (6 foot $2 HDMI cable) • http://www.newegg.com/Product/ProductList.aspx?Subm it=ENE&Description=HDMI%20Cables&bop=And&Order =PRICE (more HDMI cable deals) • http://solidsignal.com (antennas and amplifiers)
Questions?
• If you think of any later, Contact me at
[email protected] or on 442.725+ MHz
